Top-seeded IHA Blue Eagles advance to Non-Public, North A final

Township of Washington - The top-seeded Blue Eagles of Immaculate Heart Academy picked up their 30th win of the season in a 5-0 victory over fifth-seeded Paramus Catholic in the Non-Public, North A semifinals May 29.

"She's a special player," IHA coach Anthony LaRezza said. "A lot of people think she's all about pitching. She fields her position well. She hits, she runs. She's a complete player."

Thomas and Paladins' pitcher Kaitlyn Belger kept both teams scoreless going into the bottom of the third, with Thomas having retired the Paladins 1-2-3 in the top of the inning. Thomas hit a triple to right-center that sent Reagan Jones home. Freshman Reese Guevarra hit a double on the next play, putting another run up for IHA. Two more hits by Daniella Ibarra and Angelina McGuire put the Blue Eagles up 3-0 by the end of the inning.

Solid defense by first baseman Giuliana Coccia, Ibarra, Emily Walter and Thomas - who struck-out nine batters - helped keep Paramus Catholic from making any runs. The Paladins' closest shot to scoring came in the fourth inning, when senior Heather Ronchi hit a double to deep left field, but Thomas got the third out against Paramus Catholic's next batter.

The Blue Eagles picked up another run in the fourth when, with two outs already recorded, a hit by Guevarra sent sophomore Emilie Cieslak home.

"Anytime you get a 'W' in this time of the year, it's a good thing," LaRezza said. "Right now it's not about style points, it's about surviving and advancing, and we did that today. We got some two-out hits that were very instrumental in our win today."

IHA scored their final run in the sixth inning. With two outs, pinch runner Danielle Monocky stole second, then got sent home off an error on a single hit by Guevarra, who had three RBIs in the game.

The Blue Eagles will go on to play in the final against either third-seeded DePaul or second-seeded Mount St. Dominic at Seton Hall University on June 3 after facing Indian Hills in the county final on May 31.